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Biomedical subjects

M Wang

Publications and source records attributed to M Wang.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Neutralizing antibodies have limited effects on the control of established HIV-1 infection in vivo.

Neutralizing antibodies can protect against challenge with HIV-1 in vivo if present at appropriate concentrations at the time of viral challenge, but any role in the control of established infection is unclear. Here, we show that high serum concentrations of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, either singly or as a cocktail, have little sustained effect on viral load in established HIV-1 infection in hu-PBL-SCID mice. In some instances, virus replication of neutralization-sensitive virus continues even in the presence of high levels of neutralizing antibody. In most instances, neutralization escape occurs in a few days, even from a cocktail of three antibodies that recognize distinct epitopes. The results imply that humoral immunity is unlikely to play a significant role in the control of established HIV-1 infection in humans.

Animals↗

Preparation and functional properties of rice bran protein isolate.

Rice bran protein isolate (RBPI) containing approximately 92.0% protein was prepared from unstabilized and defatted rice bran using phytase and xylanase. The yield of RBPI increased from 34% to 74.6% through the use of the enzymatic treatment. Nitrogen solubilities of RBPI were 53, 8, 62, 78, 82, and 80% at pHs 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 12.0, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that RBPI had denaturation temperature of 83.4 degrees C with low endotherm (0.96 J/g of protein). RBPI had similar foaming properties in comparison to egg white. But emulsifying properties of RBPI were significantly lower than those of bovine serum albumin. The result of amino acid analysis showed that RBPI had a similar profile of essential amino acid requirements for 2-5-year-old children in comparison to that of casein and soy protein isolate.

6-Phytase↗

Acetophenone glycosides from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.).

Four acetophenone glycosides were isolated from the butanol-soluble fraction of thyme extracts. Their structures were determined by spectral methods (MS, NMR, and 2D-NMR). Among them, two new compounds, 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-[5-O-(3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]-(1-->2)-beta-D -gl ucopyranoside (1) and 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-[5-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl]-(1-->2)-beta-D-+ ++gluc opyranoside (2), were determined. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity, inhibiting DNA synthesis of human leukemia cells.

Acetophenones↗

Thermal degradation of sulforaphane in aqueous solution.

Sulforaphane, a cancer chemopreventive agent identified from broccoli, was degraded in an aqueous solution at 50 and 100 degrees C. The reaction mixtures were extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Dimethyl disulfide, S-methyl methylthiosulfinate, S-methyl methylthiosulfonate, methyl (methylthio)methyl disulfide, 1,2,4-trithiolane, 4-isothiocyanato-1-(methylthio)-1-butene, and 3-butenyl isothiocyanate were identified as volatile decomposition products. After methylene chloride extraction, the aqueous layer was dried and silica gel column chromatography was used to separate and purify the nonvolatile decomposition products. The major thermal degradation compound was determined by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and FAB-MS as N, N'-di(4-methylsulfinyl)butyl thiourea. A possible mechanism for the formation of these products is proposed.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging active components from Polygonum multiflorum thunb.

An activity-directed fractionation and purification process was used to identify the antioxidative components of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM). Dried root of PM was extracted with 95% ethanol and then separated into water, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions. Among these only the ethyl acetate phase showed strong antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test when compared with water and hexane phases. The ethyl acetate fraction was then subjected to separation and purification using silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Three compounds showing strong antioxidant activity were identified by spectral methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and MS) and by comparison with authentic samples to be gallic acid, catechin, and 2,3,5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Antioxidants↗

Characterization of Royal Gala apple aroma using electronic nose technology-potential maturity indicator.

Changes in aroma of apple harvested at four different maturities were measured at harvest and after short-term storage using electronic aroma sensors ("electronic nose") and classical headspace/gas chromatography methods. Stored fruits were also evaluated by a trained sensory panel. Compared with headspace/gas chromatography, the electronic nose was found to be more sensitive ( approximately 40 times) in terms of sample size. The sampling procedure for the electronic nose was much less complex. Using discriminant function analysis, both methods classified the apples tested into groups according to harvest date. After storage, the groupings were more diffuse. Results from sensory testing showed partial separation along the first linear discriminant but did not classify the apple into distinct groups. Important differences between treatments were found for "overall flavor", "acid flavor" intensity, "crispness", "cider/fermented aroma", "vegetative aroma", and "canned pear aroma".

Electronics↗

Evaluation of resveratrol derivatives as potential antioxidants and identification of a reaction product of resveratrol and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), an antioxidant from grapes, and five other polyhydroxystilbenes were synthesized. Their antioxidative properties were evaluated in two model systems [pure lipid oxidation using the Rancimat method and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging model.] 3, 3',4,5'-Tetrahydroxystilbene, 3,3',4,5,5'-pentahydroxystilbene, and 3,4,4',5-tetrahydroxystilbene were found to be more active than resveratrol in both models. A dimer of resveratrol was identified as the major radical reaction product when resveratrol was reacted with DPPH radicals.

Antioxidants↗

Novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester identified from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni).

Two known glycosides and a novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester were isolated from the n-butanol-soluble fraction of the fruits of Morinda citrifolia (noni). Structure determination was carried out by spectral techniques such as MS, IR, NMR, and 2D-NMR. The novel trisaccharide fatty acid ester was elucidated as 2, 6-di-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-O-octanoyl-beta-D-glucopyranose. The known compounds were identified as rutin and asperulosidic acid.

Citrus↗

Antioxidative phenolic glycosides from sage (Salvia officinalis).

An investigation of Salvia officinalis L. has led to the isolation of three new phenolic glycosides, 6-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2-->1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosid e (1), 1-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyrano side (2), and 1-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucop yranos ide (3). Elucidation of the structures of 1-3 was based on the interpretation of FABMS and 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to be moderately active as antioxidants in the DPPH test and metmyoglobin test.

Antioxidants↗

Apoptosis in developing anthers and the role of ABA in this process during androgenesis in Hordeum vulgare L.

Intra-nucleosomal cleavage of DNA into fragments of about 200 bp was demonstrated to occur in developing anthers, in which microspores had developed into the mid-late to late uni-nucleate stage in situ, i.e. at the verge of mitosis. The same was observed, but to a much larger extent, if these anthers were pre-treated by a hyper-osmotic shock. Pretreatment of anthers before the actual culture of microspores was required for optimal androgenesis of microspores. The use of the TUNEL reaction, which specifically labels 3' ends of DNA breaks, after intra-nucleosomal cleavage of DNA, revealed that DNA fragmentation mainly occurred in the loculus wall cells, tapetum cells and filament cells. TUNEL staining was absent or infrequently observed in the microspores of developing anthers in situ. Electron microscopy studies showed condensed chromatin in nuclei of loculus wall cells in the developing anthers. These observations at the chromatin and DNA level are known characteristics of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. Features of apoptosis were infrequently found in microspores from freshly isolated mature anthers. However, most tapetum cells had disappeared in these anthers and the remaining cell structures showed loss of cellular content. The viability of microspores in pre-treated anthers was comparable to those in freshly isolated anthers and almost four times higher than in anthers from control experiments. This observation was correlated with three to four times less microspores showing TUNEL staining and a two times higher level of ABA in the anther plus medium samples than in controls. Addition of ABA to the controls enhanced the viability and lowered the occurrence of apoptosis linked characteristics in the microspores. These data suggest that pre-treatment is effective in stimulating androgenesis because it leads to an increase in ABA levels which protects microspores from dying by apoptosis.

Abscisic Acid↗

Monoclonal anti-androgen receptor antibodies: production, characterization and potential diagnostic applications.

Several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and novel mAb-based assays for the androgen receptors (AR) have been developed. Large amounts of the recombinant human AR protein produced by a baculovirus expression system were used as an antigen to produce mAbs. Twenty-nine AR-specific mAbs were first confirmed by Western blot analysis and were then characterized for their immunoglobulin isotypes, epitopes, and epitope localization in AR. Novel assays using flow cytometry and sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were established to detect AR-expressing cells and to quantify soluble AR protein, respectively. Using immunostaining, we identified several anti-AR mAbs exclusively recognizing AR within the nuclei of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP and of prostate tissues in both frozen and paraffin-embedded sections, whereas other mAbs could detect AR in both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. Interestingly, certain mAbs, such as G122-25 and G122-77, could distinguish the androgen-bound AR from the unoccupied AR. In sum, many purified AR protein and anti-AR mAbs, together with the assays developed, could be powerful tools for the study of functional AR and for the diagnosis of prostatic cancers.

Animals↗

Preparation and characterization of bioactive monolayer and functionally graded coatings.

Hydroxyapatite powders were made by reacting orthophosphoric acid with calcium hydroxide and dense bioactive coatings were subsequently produced by the plasma spray technique. Three types of hydroxyapatite (flame spheroidized) monolayer coatings and three types of functionally graded coatings were manufactured. It was found that average microhardness values of monolayer coatings decreased as the indentation load increased. The relationship between indentation load and indent diagonal length observed Meyer's law. Microhardness and fracture toughness of coatings were affected by characteristics of feedstock powders for plasma spraying. The indentation fracture toughness of coatings could be significantly increased by incorporating a toughening phase.

Journal Article↗

Detection of shallow detachments in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To study the correlation between symptoms, clinical findings, fundus photographic morphology, and optical coherence tomography in patients with symptoms of central serous chorioretinopathy, but ambiguous biomicroscopic findings and no late-phase fluorescein angiographic leakage. METHODS: Biomicroscopic slit-lamp examination, greyscale digital fundus photography in red-free illumination, fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and focal retinal argon laser photocoagulation. Seven consecutive patients aged 32-69 years, of whom four received focal retinal photocoagulation treatment. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated a shallow serous detachment on optical coherence tomography. After treatment the detachment resolved, as did the relative scotoma, the prolonged dark adaptation, and the dyschromatopsia. Micropsia was markedly reduced in all, but not completely eliminated in two of the patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with central serous chorioretinopathy may have shallow foveal detachments that can only be detected by optical coherence tomography, whereas clinical and angiographic signs of detachment may be missing. Classical symptoms coupled with a normal or only mildly reduced visual acuity are highly indicative of the presence of a serous neuroretinal detachment, but fluorescein angiography is necessary to establish the diagnosis and the target for treatment.

Adult↗

Fourteen-year follow-up of children with and without speech/language impairments: speech/language stability and outcomes.

This report concerns the speech and language outcomes of young adults (N = 242) who participated in a 14-year, prospective, longitudinal study of a community sample of children with (n = 114) and without (n = 128) speech and/or language impairments. Participants were initially identified at age 5 and subsequently followed at ages 12 and 19. Direct assessments were conducted in multiple domains (communicative, cognitive, academic, behavioral, and psychiatric) at all three time periods. Major findings included (a) high rates of continued communication difficulties in those with a history of impairment; (b) considerable stability in language performance over time; (c) better long-term outcomes for those with initial speech impairments than for those with language impairments; and (d) more favorable prognoses for those with specific language impairments than for those with impairments secondary to sensory, structural, neurological, or cognitive deficits. These general conclusions held when either a liberal or a more stringent criterion for language impairment was employed. Some of these findings are consistent with those from earlier follow-up studies, which used less optimal methods. Thus, the present replication and extension of these findings with a sound methodology enables greater confidence in their use for prognostic, planning, and research purposes.

Adolescent↗